Two US police officers were fatally shot and one injured on Saturday while responding to a domestic disturbance call in Palm Springs, California, police said.
The shooting occurred after two officers went to a home on receiving a report from a female caller that her adult son was causing a disturbance, police chief Bryan Reyes said.
“The male refused to open the door and threatened to shoot the officers through the closed doors,” Reyes said.
Approximately 10 minutes after they first responded, the two officers called for emergency reinforcement and said that shots had been fired.
“It was a simple family disturbance and (the gunman) elected to open fire,” an emotional Reyes said.
“I’m awake in a nightmare right now.”
Three officers were wounded in the gunfire and taken to a local hospital, where two of them died.
“Today, Palm Springs lost two brave officers,” Reyes said, his voice trembling. “They go out every day and put their boots on the ground for everybody in this community.
“They gave it all for you.”
Reyes said the third victim was at the hospital but was “alert” and assisting investigators.
The police chief identified the victims as Jose Gilbert Vega, a 35-year old veteran of the department who was due to retire in December, and Lesley Zerebny, a 27-year-old officer who gave birth to a child four months ago.
{{/usCountry}}The police chief identified the victims as Jose Gilbert Vega, a 35-year old veteran of the department who was due to retire in December, and Lesley Zerebny, a 27-year-old officer who gave birth to a child four months ago.
{{/usCountry}}The Palm Springs police chief said the area where the shooting occurred was still an active scene and the investigation had been turned over to the central homicide unit of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
The suspect remains at large and Reyes said police do not know his exact whereabouts, but “it’s still a fluid situation and there’s belief that he still may be in the house.”
Reyes also urged the media and others not to stream live video of police officers’ movements on social media, saying it could put them in danger.
“Understand that we’re actively looking for a cop murderer,” he said.
Dozens of law enforcement officers converged on the normally quiet residential neighbourhood in this desert resort city after the shooting. They sealed off several blocks and evacuated some residents.
Police Sgt William Hutchinson said officers were warning people already inside their homes to stay there, lock their doors and not answer them until further notice.
Although Reyes didn’t identify the shooting suspect, he indicated police had had previous dealings with him.
A neighbour, Frances Serrano, said she called authorities after the father of the shooting suspect came to her house across the street and told her his son was “acting crazy.”
“He said his wife left because she was so scared of him,” Serrano said, adding the father warned that his son threatened to shoot police if they arrived.
The shooting occurred just three days after a popular Los Angeles County sheriff’s sergeant was shot and killed in the high desert town of Lancaster.
Gun violence has been a major issue in the country as instances of mentally unstable citizens carrying out mass shooting have caused dozens of deaths in recent years. The Second Amendment of the American Constitution guarantees one the personal right to bear arms for self-defense at home.